The Seventh Taylor
NOTORIOUS
Could someone please explain what's gonna happen tomorrow? Is there something I should know?
Posts: 1,126
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Post by The Seventh Taylor on Jan 20, 2013 21:06:21 GMT -5
HMV, the British music retailer spun out of EMI 15 years ago has gone into administration -- a situation companies in the UK are fare less likely to recover from than US companies seeking protection from creditors under Chapter 11. In 2008, I wrote about the downfall of record shops in London's Berwick Street ("Is the end nigh?") but since then Tower Records, Virgin Megastore and now HMV have gone down the drain -- large stores and small specialty retailers alike. I love London but going there is graduallly becoming less and less fun with the disappearance of these destinations. My last hope are a couple of second-hand record shops and whoever is left in Berwick Street. I haven't been to London recently, not sure yet when I'll have a chance again but despite all this misery still looking forward to it. ETA: plenty of coverage; one of the more nostalgic stories here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21028024and here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21040026MY first record purchase was the 7-inch of All of my heart by ABC, circa 1982, but it wasn't in the UK.
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Post by stolenleopard on Jan 21, 2013 14:13:16 GMT -5
They can't compete with the download generation. Or, people who want chart CDs/DVDs/Blu-Ray just pick them up when they go to the supermarket. There's hardly anywhere to go now just to browse classical CDs.
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Post by angelalb on Jan 22, 2013 6:02:09 GMT -5
They can't compete with the download generation. Or, people who want chart CDs/DVDs/Blu-Ray just pick them up when they go to the supermarket. There's hardly anywhere to go now just to browse classical CDs. Totally agree. The Download era is the downfall of these great music shops. Such a shame.
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The Seventh Taylor
NOTORIOUS
Could someone please explain what's gonna happen tomorrow? Is there something I should know?
Posts: 1,126
|
Post by The Seventh Taylor on Jan 27, 2013 18:59:27 GMT -5
They can't compete with the download generation. Or, people who want chart CDs/DVDs/Blu-Ray just pick them up when they go to the supermarket. There's hardly anywhere to go now just to browse classical CDs. Well, it's not so much a matter of competing with the download generation but catetiring to them, but to a large extent that's impossible by definition for a brick & mortar store. Of course, record stores have been facing a double threat for the past decade and a half: 1. Fewer people buy physical media, starting with music. 2. Those who still do will more often do so online. I myself am hardly responsible for number 1 but plead guilty to charge number 2. However, there are other changes triggered by this, too: Internet has made the world an increasingly transparent place. Amazon and especially eBay have made it a piece of cake to track down and snap up rare collectors' items. You may have to pay a higher price, competing with other collectors worldwide, but you can do it from the comfort of your sofa. My 'hunting skills' and knowledge of record shops in major and minor cities the world over are no longer needed, and almost gone is also the sense of accomplishment had when you stumbled upon a rare treasure. I miss that. With the advent of iTunes however, gone is the concept of scarcity. Completely. No more 'limited editions'. I miss that too, perhaps even more.
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Post by La Princess on Feb 14, 2013 19:43:46 GMT -5
I never shopped at HMV, but I have seen so many record chains go out of business in the last decade. I remember when the Tower Records went out of business and had the liquidation sale because I spent my lunch break at the one near my office (in downtown Chicago)shopping. Since then and right before then I know of 7 local record store (all indies)that went out of business. I have heard too that Best Buy doesn't carry many CDs anymore either.
Like SeventhTaylor mentioned it is because of downloading and buying online. I rarely buy music on iTunes but did have a gift certificate so I bought some music. I do admit buying music online because increasingly the music I want isn't available at local stores. I do think another reason is the economy and people just don't have the money to spend on music.
I was very sad to see all these record store disappear because nothing was more fun than discovering new music or talking to people about recommendations. There was a record store I shopped at as a teen into my early 20's and I found so many bands I didn't know exist. This store is long gone and so is this idea where you can discover new music at the store.
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